Winding machine



June 28, 1966 J. SILVA ETAL 3,258,222

WINDING MACHINE Filed Oct. 21, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG?) INVENTORS JOSEPH SILVA BY CARLTNA AITEEL E J 4 I FIG. 2 @141 ATTORNEYS June 28, 1966 Filed Oct. 21, 1963 J SILVA ETAL WINDING MACHINE FIG. 5

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS JOSEPH SILVA w. STEELE f2) d zzj QM ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,258,222 WINDING MACHINE Joseph Silva, Cranston, and Carlton A. Steele, Warwick, R.I., assignors to Leesona Corporation, Warwick, R.I., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Oct. 21, 1963, Ser. No. 317,648 9 Claims. (Cl. 242-430) The present invention relates to a textile machine and relates, more particularly, to an improved expandable support arbor for holding yarn packages in an unwinding position on a textile machine.

In a commonly assigned US. Patent No. 3,048,349 granted August 7, 1962 to Thomas E. Pitts et al. there is disclosed and claimed a yarn carrier provided with a package ejector for disposing of waste bobbins from an associated winding machine. The invention of that patent is characterized by the carrier being arranged to accommodate a plurality of yarn packages Wound on bobbins or like holders. In turn the packages are arranged for rotation about a vertical axis and adapted for rotation from time to time through a limited are about said axis to simultaneously transfer one package initially to an active position from a reserve position and to transfer the opposing package from an active position to a reserve position. Mounted adjacent the support for each bobbin is a lift member which is adapted to be raised to displace the bobbin from its seat on the support. Disposed above each support is a discharging tube which is adapted to be swung outwardly to engage the bobbin and thrust it away from the package carrier. The bobbin support arbors of that invention each take the form of a tapered pin of the type commonly utilized in the prior art for mounting yarn packages. In the operation of the invention disclosed in the above-cited US. Patent it is contemplated that the operator will load the yarn package on the support by presenting the butt or lower end of the bobbin on which the package is wound in a balloon restraining tube and permitting the bobbin to fall under the force of gravity to become seated on the tapered pin, the tube in this connection acting as a guide. It has been found in practice that this method of loading and supporting the bobbins is not entirely satisfactory in all instances. Firstly, the tapered pins must necessarily be selected to match in diameter the internal diameters of the bobbin holders to be accommodated thereby. Therefore, it is necessary that a rather extensive supply of tapered pins be kept on hand and in order to accommodate a variety of bobbin sizes. Secondly, when the bobbins must seat themselves on the pin solely under the force of gravity, as being dropped onto the tapered pins from some height, any damage to the butt end of the bobbin which renders it eccentric or which causes an edge of the bobbin to impinge inwardly or become otherwise mutilated results in the package not being firmly seated on the pin. Rather, the bobbin may become only partially caught on the pin or fail to engage with the pin at all. This produces the undersirable result that the operator must manually retrieve the package and replace it with a package, the bobbin of which has a concentric internal diameter at its butt end. Thirdly, it has been found that bobbins which are held on the tapered pin by the weight of the yarn package alone are apt to become loose as the yarn, particularly yarn of heavier deniers, is unwound over the end of the package. The consequence of this is that the package may actually raise up oif the pin ultimately causing the supply of yarn to break.

It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide a support arbor having positive means for securing a package of yarn firmly in position thereon for unwinding.

3,258,222 Patented June 28, I966 "ice Another object of the present invention is to provide a support arbor capable of accommodating and holding thereon bobbins of varying internal diameters.

Yet a further object of the prsent invention is to provide a support arbor having positive means for securing a bobbin thereon for unwinding and which said positive means is readily released at the end of the unwinding cycle.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a support arbor capable of accommodating and positively holding thereon bobbins having very small internal diameters.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a support arbor capable of positively holding bobbins thereon in a position substantially concentric to the axis of the arbor.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a support arbor capable of positively holding packages the bobbin of which is eccentric in shape or the receiving end of which may be somewhat mutilated.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a support arbor which is economical in production and durable and reliable in use.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a right-side elevational view of a yarn supply package carrier and indexing mechanism in association with a bobbin supporting arbor of the present invention; an active unwinding bobbin being illustrated progressing to its unwinding position and the ejector being illus trated in a position guiding an empty bobbin away from the yarn carrier;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the bobbin holding arbor taken along lines H-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the arbor gripping means in its operative position;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of a modified embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a detailed sectional view taken along lines V-V of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along lines VIVI of FIG. 4.

Before proceeding to describe the details of the invention, it should perhaps be explained that, while the bobbin holding means of the present invention was especially developed for use in conjunction with the automatic indexing mechanism described and claimed in the afore-mentioned patent of Pitts and Steele, it nevertheless will find ready application to other types of package unwinding systems in which a supply package is automatically deposited on an arbor for unwinding.

In general the present invention may be characterized as comprising a tubular sleeve, the midsection of which accommodates an elongated centerless rod or post, the post projecting both from the lower region of the sleeve and from the upper region thereof. The lower end of the post is aflixed in a rotatable carrier, the sleeve being freely slidable on the post. The upper end of the post is arranged to receive a bobbin thereon and is provided with gripper means. In one embodiment the gripper means take the form of a single dog or expander blade. In the alternate embodiment this means is constituted as a plurality of equidistant blades arranged around the upper extreme of the rod. A plunger is situated in the center of the post coaxia'lly therewith for free slidable movement. The upper end of the plunger is provided with an actuator which acts, in response to axial movement of the plunger in an upward direction, to shift the gripper means against a bobbin located on the upper 3 end of the post. A cam-like plate is arranged to operate the plunger in response to rotation of the carrier whereby the 'bobbin is firmly gripped while the package is being unwound, yet the bobbin is released from this grip upon completion of the unwinding.

Turning now to a detailed description of the instant invention with particular reference to FIGURE 1, the numeral designates the lower frame of a yarn winding machine, which part may be an element of the apparatus as disclosed in the afore-mentioned patent of Pitts and Steele. A shaft 12 extends upwardly from frame 10 and is suitably journalled therein for rotation about a vertical axis. Shaft 12 projects below the upper wall of frame 10 as at 14 and a beveled gear 16 is rigidly fixed on the shaft end. Meshing with beveled gear 16 is a beveled pinion 18 secured to the outer end of a horizontal shaft 20 extending rearwardly toward the remainder of the winding apparatus (not shown), the rear wall of frame 10 being suitably cut away, as at 22, to accommodate the shaft. The end of shaft 20 remote from frame 10 is connected to a suitable source of power (not shown) and it is contemplated that shaft 12 shall be rotated, from time to time, through a limited are either by periodic operation of shaft 20 or in some other manner, as desired. Reference is made to the earlier cited patent to Pitts and Steele for an advantageous method of rotation of the said shaft 12.

There is afiixed to shaft 12 at a point somewhat above the upper level of frame 10 a yarn carrier member, general-1y designated 26, constructed as a spider having a central hub portion 28 press fitted or otherwise secured on shaft 12 and two branches 30, 30' extending radially from hub 28 in diametrically opposite directions. Adjacent their respective outer ends, branches 30 and 30' carry vertically arranged posts 32, 32', the posts being affixed to the branches as by set screws 33. The upper end of each post 32, 32 terminates in a bobbin receiving section at 34, to receive and support the gripping means yet to be described.

Branches 30, 34) are provided at their inner ends adjacent hub 28 with pairs of spaced-apart upstanding ears 36, 36' which are bridged at their upper ends 'by horizontal pins 38, 38. Projecting outwardly from the pairs of cars 36, 36 with their inner ends pivoted on pins 38, 38, are lift arms 40, 40', which terminate with enlarged spade-like portions 42, 42. The latter portions are slotted at 44 to fit around posts 32, 32, slots 44 being radially elongated to permit the arms 44), 40' to pivot about pins 38, 38. The transverse dimension of each of these slots is so selected that it just exceeds the exterior diameter of the posts.

Spade portions 42, 42' are preferably bowed upwardly or convexly bent from the normal plane of the arm so that, when the arms are in fully depressed position, the outer edges of the spade portions rest slightly above the top surface of branches 30, 30' with the inner ends of the lift arms supported above the surface in the ears. Fitted slidably around posts 32, 32' between the section 34 and the enlarged portions 42, 42' of lift arms 40, 40 are tubular sleeves 48, 48, which are just long enough to leave the section 34 exposed when lift arms 40, 40' are in fully depressed position. As the slots in the spadelike portions of 42, 42' are only slightly larger than the diameter of the posts 32, 32', see FIG. 2, it will be seen that the lower face of each sleeve 48, 48 is engaged by the marginal edges of the slot in the corresponding enlarged arm portion. Hence, as each arm 40, 40 is elevated the sleeve associated therewith will likewise be elevated above the upper limit of the post which it surrounds to unseat the bobbin on that post.

The elevation of the lift arms is accomplished through the medium of elongated tongues 50, 50', each formed integrally with a lift arm 40, 40' and depending downwardly therefrom, which tongues pass through elongated apertures provided for that purpose in the branches,

as at 52. Cooperating with the tongues 50, 50' to move the same is a plate cam 54 situated between carrier 26 and frame 10 and supported on a collar or pedestal 56, which may also serve as the journal for shaft 12, and circling shaft 12 and attached to the top wall of frame 10. Cam 54 is stationary, being cut away at its center to clear the external surface of shaft 12, and peripheral edge 58 thereof constitutes a cam surface for tongues 50, 50. The peripheral edge 58 of cam 54 is preferably shaped in the manner described in the afore-cited patent to Pitts and Steele whereby, during translation of the carrier 26, the tongues 50, 50' will be caused to swing outwardly away from shaft 12, causing the corresponding lift on the sleeve to be raised on the corresponding post, and unseating the package holder on that post from said post as by tube 60 in the manner taught by the prior cited patent. A tray 62 is advantageously positioned to receive the package holder so discharged.

The mechanism thus far described is adapted primarily to impart translation to the carrier for yarn packages and, during the course of such translation, to unseat one of the bobbins from its support means on the carrier all in the manner as set forth in the previously cited patent to Pitts and Steele.

Turning now to FIGS. 2 and 3 there is illustrated in detail one embodiment of the support arbor of the instant invention. While the sectional view of FIG. 2 is taken off the support arbor S carried by the branch 30 of FIG. 1 it will be appreciated that the arbor S carried on the branch 30' would be normally of the same construction. As seen in FIG. 2 post 32 is a centerless member depending beyond the lower margin of branch 30 and projecting upwardly beyond the upper terminus of sleeve 48. As discussed earlier, the upper end of post 32 has a bobbin receiving section 34. This section 34 is preferably formed with a slight taper on its outer periphery narrowing as the section 34 extends upwardly. Further, section 34 has a chordal slot formed in one side thereof as at 66, which slot penetrates through substantially the entire diameter of section 34. However, wall 68 remains at the rear of said slot 66. A pin 69 bridges the slot 66 and affords a support to a rockable dog or expander blade 70. As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 blade 70 has a rear side 71 having a large convex radius of curvature. Oppositely of side 71 the forward and bottom edges of the blade 70 converge at an obtuse angle so as to provide a blunt point 72 for engagement with a bobbin when the blade 70 is rocked out of the confines of slot 66.

The means for rocking blade 70 is constituted as an elongated pusher rod or plunger 76 positioned within the center of post 32 for axially slida'ble movement. The lower end of plunger 76 depends below the lower extreme of post 32 for purposes yet to be explained. The intermediate region of plunger 76 is provided with a shoulder as at 78 to mate with a step formed in the internal diameter of post 32, thereby acting as a stop to limit downward movement of the plunger relative to the post. The upper end of plunger 76 has a slot with an inclined bottom surface constituting an actuator cam 80 situated so as to present the inclined path for engagement with side 71 of blade 70 on the upward stroke of plunger 76 to rock the blade out of slot 66. Advantageously, the convex radius on the rear side 71 of blade 70 affords a clearance so that the actuator cam 80 is readily guided against the blade on its upward stroke. It will be apparent that the slot, the bottom edge of which is cam 80, and slot 66 are aligned so that the blade 70 is prevented from moving laterally or cramping as it swings outwardly.

It has already been stated that the lower end of plunger 76 depends below the bottom of post 32. This bottom end of plunger 76 is engageable with a stiff angular elevating cam or plate 84 supported on the outer end of an elongated bar 86 and disposed in the path of rotary movement of the plunger. The remote end of bar 86 is fastened to frame 10. Thus, as translation is imparted to the support arbors on the carrier 26 by shaft 12 the lower end of plunger 76 is caused to ride up the inclined edge of plate 84 to step 84' thereof to elevate the plunger and force actuator cam 80 against blade 70 in the manner earlier related to swing the blade outwardly. Further rotary movement of carrier 26 will swing plunger 76 off the step 84 thereby permitting the actuator cam to release blade 70 and allowing the blade to retreat to its inactive position as shown in FIG. 3. It is to be understood that the position of step 84 will coincide with the active unwinding station position of the yarn package P as described in the cited patent to Pitts and Steele in order that the blade may firmly grip the bobbin at this unwinding location.

To the end that each of the bobbins may be seated to the proper'depth on post 32 the upper end of sleeve 48 is enclosed by a concave disc 88 on which the base of the bobbin rests. Further, and in order that the sleeve may remain concentric on post 32 a pair of spaced webs 90, 90' are provided. The lower web 90' is formed as part of the sleeve and bored to loosely receive the post therethrough. As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the upper web 90 is aflixed to post 32 and loosely receives sleeve 48 thereon so that the sleeve may be guided thereby. Further, disc 88 abuts against web 90 to limit the downward movement of sleeve 48.

It is thought that the operation of the foregoing apparatus will be readily apparent from the preceding description. However, a summary of the operation thereof is as follows. It will be appropriate firstly to point out that the support arbor S as illustrated in FIG. 1 is progressing to the active unwinding station or position vertically aligned with step 84 while the support arbor S is shown as discharging its bobbin and just prior to arriving at its reserve position. Thus, it will be appreciated that each arbor is substantially at the position it will assume as the package P on support arbor S commences unwinding, the remaining few degrees of rotation of carrier 26 being adequate, of course, to permit lift arm 40' to fall thereby establishing support arbor S in condition to reload it with a fresh bobbin.

Assuming that the bobbin on support arbor S has completed its unwinding carrier 26 is indexed through power supplied from shaft 20 in the manner disclosed in the Pitts and Steele patent already cited. In consequence thereof plunger 76 is swung off step 84'. Actuator cam 80 falls away from blade 70 permitting this blade to rock clockwise, these parts thereupon assuming the position illustrated in FIG. 3. With a fresh bobbin to have been donned on support arbor S in place of the discharged bobbin, this fresh bobbin will, of course, be translated to the active unwinding position previously occupied by support arbor S In the course of this movement plunger 76 thereof will ride up the incline of plate 84, coming to rest on step 84. Actuator cam 80 is thereby caused to 'bear on expander blade 70 urging this blade out of the confines of slot 66 and against the inner wall of bobbin B as seen in FIG. 2. The opposite side of the bobbin wall is, of course, forced against the tapered diameter of section 34. Concurrently with the movement of the fresh supply package from the reserve position to the active position, the expended bobbin is indexed to the reserve position, in the course of which movement the appropriate portion 42, 42' raises the associated sleeve 48 or 48 to discharge the spent bobbin as fully described in the afore-mentioned Pitts and Steele patent.

It will be obvious from the foregoing that the embodiment just described may be employed advantageously for accommodating bobbins having very small internal diameters since, due to the novel construction thereof, only very little space is required to house the parts.

In FIGS. 4 through 6 there is illustrated a modified embodiment of the invention. It will be understood that this modified embodiment would be supported and motivated by a support such as carrier 26 and indexed in the same fashion as with the embodiment just described. Thus, viewing FIG. 4 it will be seen that a centerless post 32" mounted in like manner as with post 32 of the earlier described embodiment is fitted with a tubular sleeve 94. In comparable manner as with sleeves 48, 48 of the earlier embodiment sleeve 94 is freely slidable on post 32" to be operated in the same way as with said sleeves 48, 48'. A cap 96 is press fitted on the upper end of post 32". Cap 96 is centerless, being provided with a plurality of Ichordal slots 98 around its periphery at equidistantly spaced intervals, these slots being illustrated herein as three in number and identified as 98a, 98b and 980. In turn, each slot accommodate-s with a respective expander blade 100, here differentiated as a, b and 0. These expander blades are yieldably held in position around cap 96 by an elastic band 102 engaged in a suitable indentation in the margin of each blade and a recess around the periphery of cap 96. The circumference of the lower end of cap 96 is enlarged to form a plate or web at 104, this web serving as a guide for sleeve 94 as the sleeve is elevated in the operation of ejecting a bobbin.

Here, as with the embodiment first described, a concave disc 88' is fastened on the top Olf sleeve 94 and 'serves to limit the downward movement of bobbin B on cap 96. Further, disc 88' bears against web 104 to control the extent of downward movement of sleeve 94.

As with the'earlier embodiment a slidable plunger 76' is here provided, the plunger depending below the bottom end of post 3-2 so as to be engageable with a stiff cam or plate 106 having a step 106. The upper end of plunger 76' has a large diameter cam member 108 aflixed thereto. Member 108 is provided with a pair of sloping cam surfaces 109 and 110 adjacent each blade and positioned to mate with complimentary surfaces on each of the expander blades, see FIG. 6. As will be readily apparent in FIG. 6, when member 108 is elevated in response to plunger 7 6 engaging plate 106 and riding up on step 108 the blades are urged outwardly beyond the confines of cap 96 to grip the lower internal wall of a bobbin B and hold the bobbin coaxially with the support arbor. Further, When the biasing effect of cap 96 is removed in response to plunger 76' descending, as when this plunger rides off member 106, the elastic band 102 causes the blades 100 to retreat inwardly of cap 96 thereby releasing bobbin B for removal.

It will be seen that the embodiment just described may be advantageously utilized normally to accommodate bobbins generally of somewhat larger internal diameters than those contemplated for use with the first described embodiment and where the demands tfOI coaxial positioning of the yarn package relative to the bobbin are greater.

Since certain changes may be made in the above-described apparatus without departing from the scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. In a winding machine having a carrier mounted for rotation about a vertical axis, the improvement therein comprising, a member supported on said carrier for receiving a bobbin wound with yarn, gripper means associated -with said member and arranged for movement relative to said bobbin, means for rotating said carrier to move said bobbins between an active unwinding position and a reserve position, and actuating means operable as said carrier moves to said active unwinding position for biasing said gripper means against said bobbin.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said actuating means includes an actuator cam operable to bias said gripper means, a plunger connected with said actuator cam, and a plate member engageable with said plunger to operate said actuator cam as said carrier moves to its active unwinding position.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said gripping means is a single element.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said gripping means is a plurality of elements.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said gripping means is released from said bobbin as the carrier move-s to its reserve position, and ejector means for removing :said bobbin from said receiving member after release of said lgripping means.

6. A yarn package holding device comprising in combination a support member arranged to receive a bobbin thereon, gripping means associated with said support member and normally held in a retracted position, an actuator cam for biasing said gripping means to an expanded position engaged with said bobbin, a movable plunger connected with said cam, means for moving said plunger whereby to operate said gripping means and hold the bobbin on said member, and movable ejector means operable to remove said bobbin from said support member when said gripping means moves to its retracted position.

7. The combination as set forth in claim '6 wherein said gripping means is a single element.

8. The combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein said gripping means is a plurality of elements.

9. The combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein said ejector means includes a slidable sleeve, said sleeve including a (portion adapted to engage and remove said bobbin from said support member when said lgripping means is in its retracted position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1928 Peterson 242-355 5/1965 Livingston 242130 

1. IN A WINDING MACHINE HAVING A CARRIER MOUNTED FOR ROTATION ABOUT A VERTICAL AXIS, THE IMPROVEMENT THEREIN COMPRISING, A MEMBER SUPPORTED ON SAID CARRIER FOR RECEIVING A BOBBIN WOUND WITH YARN, GRIPPER MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID MEMER AND ARRANGED FOR MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID BOBBIN, MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID CARRIER TO MOVE SAID BOBBINS BETWEEN AN ACTIVE UNWINDING POSITION AND A RESERVE POSITION, AND ACTUATING MEANS OPERABLE AS SAID CARRIER MOVES TO SAID ACTIVE UNWINDING POSITION FOR BIASING SAID GRIPPER MEANS AGAINST SAID BOBBIN. 